Thill-tug



(No Model.)

M. POTTER, THILL TUG.

No. 493,887. Patented Mar. 21, 1893.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR BWWQYW ATTORNEYS.

TH: Noams Firms cu. m-(onmrmovv WASHINGYON u c UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

MAYNES POTTER, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

THlLL-TUG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 493,837, dated March21, 1893.

Application filed June 80, 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAYNES POTTER, of Orange,Essex county, New Jersey,have invented an Improved Thill-Tug, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a metallic thill tug so constructed that itcan be swung open for the introduction of the thill and that under astrain to slip, it will firmly grasp the thill.

The invention consists in the various features of improvement more fullypointed out in the claims. r In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is asection on line m, as, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly insection of the thill tug; Fig. 3 a top View of the same. Figs. 4 and 5are front views of the same, showing it open and closed.

The letter a, represents a bar which maybe either straight or curved,and which is provided on one side with a pair of eyes a, a, throughwhich passes the strap 1), by which the tug is secured to the harness.This strap is provided with a series of perforations 1), adapted to beengaged by rearwardly projecting pins a on bar a. Thus the tug may beadjusted at different elevations as will be readily understood. The bara, is provided with two jaws c, d, of which the lower jaw c,

is fixed and concaved for the thill while the upper jaw cl, is movable.The lower jaw c, is made in one piece with the bar a, from which itprojects outwardly and upwardly in the form of a hook. The upper edge ofthis hook is concave as at 0', Figs. 4 and 5. The upper jaw d is alsomade in the form of a hook and is pivoted to the bar a, by a pivot orscrew d. This jaw projects first downwardly to lie close against the bara, and thence it projects outwardly, to engage with the free edge 0', oflower jaw c (Fig. 2). This free edge of the upper jaw (l, is made convexas at 61 to fit The upinto the concavity of the lower jaw.

Serial No. 438,495. (No model.)

per jaw d, is pivoted eccentrically being made wider at one side of thepivot than at the other, at its lower edge as indicated at (1 Within thelower face of the jaw cl, is formed a groove 61 (Fig. 2) for thereception of a leather pad 6. This pad is made of tapering form, beingthicker at one side of the hook than at the other (Fig.1). The lowerhook c,

is provided with a suitable leather or similar lining f. When the horseis backed up between the thills, the upper jaw cl, is swung open (Fig.4) until the horse has arrived at its proper position. Then the jaw isswung down to attach the horse to the wagon. In this way the troublesomeslipping of the tugs along the thills is dispensed with. If there is apull on the tug while driving, which would cause it to slip, the movablejaw will assume an inclined position in relation to the fixed jaw (Fig.5). This will cause the tapering pad 6, to bear firmly upon the thill A,and to thus hold the tug in place.

What I claim is- 1. A thill tug composed of a fixed jaw concaved for thethill and a laterally swinging movable jaw which has a tapering innerside for engagement with the thill, substantially as specified.

2. A thill tug composed of a bar having a lower fixed jaw, concaved forthe thill an upper movable jaw and a tapering pad secured to the innerface of the movable jaw, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of bar a, provided with loops 0,, pins a and lowerjaw 0, having a concave upper edge with an eccentrically piv- 8o otedupper jaw d, having a convex lower edge and a groove (1 and with atapering pad 6, within said groove, substantially as specified.

MAYNES POTTER. WVitnesses:

A. J ONGHMANS, F. v. BRIESEN.

